Outside the building, the wind whipped up, whirling through the trees and blasting leaves through the air. In the distance, the spider roared, and eight legs slammed down on stone, one pair after another.

“What was that?” Brittany asked.

“The darkfoe,” Mouse said, and then the spider lunged out over the hot springs.

Eyes milky under the white slash and jewel-dark where it wasn’t, venom dripping from fangs as long as Mouse’s forearm, the spider hissed. Black, oily venom dripped into the hot spring, tainting it with black. The springs sizzled, as if the venom were oil and it, a hot pan. The blue-green water shone, and the black taint vanished.

The avians rushed the door, most still in their demon disguises. Mouse battled them back, scoring hits on their arms and legs. Clarita burst out into their midst. Her thick fur soaked their blows, easily blocking the projectiles they rained down. Barbs bounced off her shaggy coat. The arrows stuck, but never struck deep. At her side, Brittany whirled, a flash of gray and silver, deflecting or blocking any serious blows before they could find Clarita.

An avian slashed at Mouse. He parried, but the blow landed heavier than he expected, and his hand dipped. The avian grinned and turned her hand for a second slash.

“Not today!”

Sun magic burned a hole through the avian’s shoulder at the same time as Bessemer crashed into its legs. The avian staggered, desperately flapping her wings to stay upright. She jumped, trying to take to the air, but was dragged down by Bessemer.

“Stay on the blessed ground, you damn flappy critter!” Bessemer shouted.

Mouse charged in and slapped the avian in the face with the side of his sword. She crumpled to the ground. “Try and capture them alive!” They don’t deserve to die. They’ve been through so much already. It’s better if we can take them in, especially if we want to bring Toni and the other avian nobles to justice.

Over the spring, the spider opened its mouth wide. Black venom gouted out, tainting the springs. Again, the spring hissed, but this time, the black swirled on their surface, fighting the purifying properties. It faded, but slowly.

“They’re trying to taint the springs!” Mouse shouted.

“Dammit! Where’s Felix when you need him?” Brittany complained.

Mouse grimaced guiltily.

Eran laughed. He flapped his wings and took to the sky. Spreading his hands wide, he stared down at them. “How do you feel now, Princess? Powerless? Pathetic? Dirty? Watch as your precious springs are tainted. Isn’t it pathetic, that the only way to hurt you is to strike you in your leisure facilities? Is that not indicative of how horribly you and our royalty have failed the avians’ beautiful country?”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Eleda ran out to the door and jabbed a finger at him. A beam of golden sunlight cut a coin-sized hole through his feathers, but failed to hit flesh. She wrinkled her nose and ducked behind Leaa again.

A salvo of arrows whistled down on them. Mouse ducked backward, into the room. Outside, Brittany whirled her blade, knocking arrows away from Clarita. Arrows pierced her gray flesh, but she didn’t react.

Glancing over his shoulder, Mouse nodded at Eleda. “Eleda! Can you focus a big shot on the spider? We need to get him out of the springs before he taints it!”

“Got it.” Eleda fell back. She closed her eyes and raised her hands by her forehead, almost prayerful. Sun magic shimmered around her, a palpable heat wave.

“Toni!” Mouse snapped.

Toni jolted. “I—I didn’t know—”

“Go get reinforcements!” Mouse shouted.

She jumped, then whirled and retreated. White feathers fluttered after her as she took to the skies. “Help! Please help!”

Eran narrowed his eyes. “No, you don’t.”

Mouse scooped up a fallen bar of soap and the barb he’d pulled out of his ankle, pressed the barb into the soap, and threw it at Eran. It bounced off his head. He turned, raising a hand to the marks on his cheek.

“How do you like a taste of your own medicine?” Mouse taunted, grinning.

Eran paled. He backstroked in the air, then stopped. “If I must give my life, then so be it! Men, chase that woman! Don’t let her escape!”

“Protect Toni! She’s going for reinforcements!” Mouse replied. He didn’t make a move, though, as the avians hurtled overhead. A small smile passed over his lips, though briefly. That cleared out the avians nicely. Let Toni deal with her own problems. Now it’s just us princesses and the spider.

I wonder where that dragon princess is? Could use her right now. Mouse cast around, then sighed. She’s always followed her own agenda, but never hurt anyone. Based on last time, she’s probably protecting the townsfolk, but won’t come help. After a second, he shrugged. Could be worse. We can’t protect the townsfolk, so if she can, we don’t have to worry about it.

“Brittany! Clarita! Pull back, but get ready to charge! Eleda, is that shot ready?”

“N-nearly!” Eleda replied.

“Leaa! Protect Eleda!"

“I’ve got it,” Leaa replied softly, shifting a branch to block a stray arrow. It bounced off harmlessly and clattered to the floor at Eleda's feet.

Clarita whipped around and hunkered next to him, more beast than woman, growling at the spider. Brittany ran to her side, ready to block any incoming attacks.

“What about me?” Gawain asked.

Mouse hesitated. “Uh… come here.”

Gawain hopped over to him. He bent down and picked her up with both hands. Gawain struggled. "Hey! Just because I'm small doesn't mean you can--"

"It's a very important mission," Mouse replied. "Could you curl up for me?"

"Are you going to make me fly?" Gawain guessed.

"Maybe," Mouse said.

Gawain curled up tight. "I love flying."

“Alright. Grab onto his face!” Mouse hauled back and tossed her at Eran. Gawain let out an excited shriek as she flew. Eran caught a glimpse as she zipped at him and flapped his wings, but too late. She slammed into Eran’s chest and clawed her way upward, cackling the whole way.

Eran swatted at Gawain, but she clung on tight. Baring yellowed teeth, she bit down into his neck. Eran screeched and batted at her again, harder, then wobbled in the air, almost falling from the sky.

The small scrapes on his cheek from the barb burned a bright red, and a heavy purple bruise oozed out from around them, already stretching down his neck. With the new gash at his throat and the claw marks up his body, he bled from a dozen wounds, none of them serious, but rapidly accumulating.

Gawain has him for now. It's time to make our move. “Eleda?” Mouse asked, hefting his sword.

“Ready!” she called.